Apparatus for producing non-filter cigarettes



United States atent [72] inventor George C. Wiles, Jr.

7206 Galax Road, Richmond, Virginia 23228 [21] Appl. No. 673,094 [22] Filed Oct. 5, 1967 [45] Patented Aug. 25, 1970 [54] APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING NON-FILTER CIGARETTES 5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 131/24, 131/61,118/420 [51] Int. Cl A24c 5/00 [50] Field of Search 131/12 (Cursory) 21,24,61, 63; l18/(W& C),401,420

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 19,316 2/1858 Thayer etal..... 118/420X 596,564 1/1898 Allen 131/24 Porter Eppler Lutz Meyer McArdle Copeman lsenberg Moshy Primary Examiner- Joseph S. Reich A tt0rney- Strauch, Nolan, Neale, Nies and Kurz 118/420 l18/420X 118/420 13l/61X 131/61 118/420X 131/l17X Patented Au 25, 1970 3,525,343

Sheet 1 of 2 '2 1O? 22 247 26-1 281 A QSQ JQ' FEED l COATING COATING CUTTTNG WMECHANISM ECHANISM APPLICATOR' DRYER MACHINE PAPER I4 CONTINUOUS INDIVIDUAL CIGARETTE CIGARETTES ROD fail l \t\ a I 70a I I AMP INVENTOR. 650565 a. W/LES,J/1".

ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 25, 1970 3,525,343

INVENTOR GEORGE c. W/L E8, JR.

ATTORNEY APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING NON-FILTER CIGARETTES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to the production of cigarettes and,

more specifically, to the production of conventional or nonfilter cigarettes with moisture and crush resistant ends or mouthpieces.

It is well-known that the ends of non-filter cigarettes tend to absorb moisture from the smokers lips. causing the cigarette paper to tear. This is of course undesirable since it will release grains of tobacco from the cigarette.

Similarly, the pressure of the smokers lips on such a cigarette will crush or compress it. This forces grains of tobacco out of the crushed end of the cigarette which again is undesirable for obvious reasons.

To some extent these problems are solved by the advent of filter cigarettes with their separate mouthpieces. However, a strong demand remains for non-filter cigarettes because many smokers prefer the taste of unfiltered smoke. Accordingly, filters are by no means a complete answer to the problem.

Coupled with the demand for a non-filter cigarette at the present time is an insistence on a non-filter cigarette which is as easy to smoke as a filter cigarette; i.e., one with a moisture repelling, crush resistant end or mouthpiece. Many approaches to producing a non-filter cigarette with the characteristics just described have been tried. Exemplary of these methods are those described in US. Pat. Nos. 2,149,896 to McCardle; 2,543,277 to Copeman; 2,708,440 to Ruaer; and 3,064,657 to Shriner.

None of the earlier approaches to the problem discussed above have proved satisfactory. One disadvantage of many if not most of them, which involve a coating or binder at one end of the cigarette, is that the material employed produces an undesirable taste and/or odor when ignited. Thus, if the smoker lights the wrong end of the cigarette, he will be subjected to an unpleasant experience as well as waste the cigarette.

A further disadvantage of other proposed solutions to the problem is that they change the taste of the cigarette as it is smoked. This is also objectionable to the smoker who is seeking the taste of an unfiltered cigarette.

Also. in some instances, the material employed causes an unpleasant sensation when touched by the smokers lips. This is obviously highly undesirable.

Another disadvantage of previously employed techniques is that they involve the use of coating or other materials which may not be edible and harmless. Such approaches are of course of no commercial value even though they may be technically feasible.

A further disadvantage of previous approaches to the instant problem is that they involve the use of coatings and binders which do not adhere satisfactorily to the cigarette paper or which are relatively difficult to dry. The latter problem is particularly serious since slow drying materials are incompatible with modern, high speed cigarette making machines.

SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is one important and primary object of the present invention to provide apparatus for producing improved non-filter cigarettes with moisture repellent, crush resistant ends or mouthpieces.

Another important, primary, and related object of the invention resides in the provision of cigarettes in accord with the preceding object by the use of techniques which do not have the disadvantages of those heretofore proposed.

In general this and other objects of the present invention are achieved by providing apparatus for coating the ends of nonfilter cigarettes with a moisture repellent material which is capable of strengthening the ends of the cigarette and making them crush resistant. A preferred material is lecithin (lecithins are phosphatides having the approximate formula CH (R)CI'I(R,)CH OPO(OH)O(CH N(OH)(CH where R and R are fatty acid groups).

In the present invention the lecithin is combined with an appropriate inert liquid carrier and then applied by coating mechanism which will be described in detail hereinafter. Suitable carriers are the food grade fluorinated hydrocarbons sold under the trademark Freon with octafluorocyclobutune being preferred.

Solutions with on the order of 3 percent lecithin in the fluorinated hydrocarbon carrier have been found to give excellent results. This concentration can be varied to produce coatings of different thicknesses. However, for satisfactory results, the concentration should not be decreased below about 2.5 percent nor increased to more than about 3.5 percent.

The preferred carriers are readily evaporated and will in effect Flash Off when exposed to heat from infrared lamps. Ac cordingly, the lecithin can be reduced to a hard-set coating within one second when cured by the use of infrared lamps. This drying rate is compatible with the operating rates of modern high speed cigarette making machines (typically up to 1500 cigarettes per minute) since a number of cigarettes can be dried simultaneously.

Among the advantages of producing a non-filter cigarette with moisture and crush resistant ends in accord with the principles of the present invention are that there is no change in the taste or flavor of the cigarette when it is lit and smoked and no noticeable sensation when touched by the smokers lips and that only the use of materials that are edible and harmless is involved. Other advantages are that the coating material adheres satisfactorily to the cigarette paper and that it can be flash dried, making it suitable for use in high-speed cigarette making machines.

The coating material is applied in a suitable carrier by a novel stationary or travelling bar type coater and then dried by infrared lamps or the like. Among the important features of the novel apparatuses for applying the material disclosed herein is mechanism for automatically applying the coating material at the proper locations on a continuous cigarette rod so that it will be on the ends of the individual cigarettes when the rod is cut. Another significant feature is an arrangement which provides control over the thickness of the coating applied to the cigarettes.

A further important but more specific object of the invention resides in the provision of non-filter cigarettes with moisture repellant, crush resistant ends by coating the ends of the cigarettes with a material capable of producing moisture resistance and resistance to crushing and which has one or more of the following characteristics: no significant effect on the taste of flavor of the cigarette when lit or smoked, lack of any noticeable sensation when touched by the smokers lips, is edible and harmless, adheres satisfactorily to the cigarette, and can be quickly dried.

Yet another important object of the present invention is the provision of novel, improved coating apparatus for applying coatings of the types described above to the ends of cigarettes.

A related and important but more specific object of the invention is the provision of such coating apparatus having arrangements for varying the thickness of the coating and/or for automatically applying the coating material at locations on a continuous cigarette rod such that the ends of the individual cigarettes will be coated when the rod is cut.

Other objects, additional significant features, and further important advantages of the invention will be apparent from the appended claims and from the ensuing detailed descrip tion and discussion of exemplary embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing:

FIG. I is a schematic illustration of an installation for producing non-filter cigarettes with moisture repellent, crush resistant ends in accord with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view. generally schematic, ofcoating apparatus constructed in accord with the principles of the present invention which may be employed in the installation of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section through the apparatus of FIG. 2. taken substantially alone line 3 3 of the latter figure:

FIG. 4 is a generally schematic perspective and sectional view of a second form of coating apparatus which can be used in the system of FIG. 1',

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, ofa part ofthe coating ap paratus of FIG. 4 taken substantially along line 5-5 of FIG. 4 and ofa control system for the coating apparatus; and

FIG. 6 is a partial schematic elevational and sectional view of a third form of coating apparatus constructed in accord with the principles of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY PRE- FERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawing. a cigarette forming machine equipped to produce cigarettes with lecithin coated ends in accord with the principles of the present invention will typically include cigarette forming mechanism 10 into which tobacco 12 and cigarette paper 14 are fed and which converts these materials into a cylindrical cigarette rod 16 (see FIG. 2) consisting of a core 18 of tobacco surrounded by a tube 20 of cigarette paper (see FIG. 3) which is thereafter severed into individual cigarettes. From mechanism 10 the cigarette rod 16 is fed by feed mechanism 22 through coating applicator 24 where the lecithin-fluorinated hydrocarbon coating material is applied to cigarette rod 16 at spaced locations therealong.

From coating apparatus 24 cigarette rod 16 passes through drier 26 where the hydrocarbon carrier is evaporated and then through cutting mechanism 28 (drier 26 can. if desired, be located after rather than before cutting mechanism 28) where the cigarette rod is cut into individual cigarettes. the cuts being made at the locations where the coating is applied to the cigarette rod so that each individual cigarette will have at least one end with a lecithin coating thereon.

With the exception of coating apparatus 24 and drying apparatus 26, the components described above are present in cigarette manufacturing machines of conventional construction. The details of these components, their operation, and interrelation are well-known and not part of the present invention. Accordingly, they will not be described further herein except as is necessary to provide a complete understanding of the present invention.

As discussed above, the drying apparatus 26 may be of the infrared lamp or other conventional type, the details of this component of the cigarette making machine not being important in the practice of the present invention so long as apparatus capable of rapidly evaporating the fluorinated hydrocarbon carrier is selected. Accordingly, further discussion of this component is also believed unnecessary.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, one form of apparatus for applying the coating material, constructed in accord with the principles of the present invention, is of the dauber type and includes a split cylinder dauber 30, an operating mechanism 32 for periodically engaging dauber with cigarette rod 16 to transfer the coating material to the cigarette rod at the desired spaced locations, and a system 34 for supplying the coating material to dauber 30.

Dauber 30 is a component of hollow, cylindrical construction providing a bore 36 through which cigarette rod 16 can pass and is composed of upper and lower, semicylindrical units 38 and 40 of similar construction. As shown by FIGS. 2 and 3, each of the dauber units 38 and 40 has an outer semicylindrical shell 42 and a concentric, semicylindrical inner shell 44 of metal screen, plastic gauze, or spun glass through which the coating material can pass. A plenum 46 is formed between the cylindrical walls 42 and 44 in each dauber component by the addition of radially oriented side walls 48 and end walls 50.

As shown in FIG. 3, the diameter of the bore 36 through dauber 30 is only slightly larger than the diameter of cigarette rod 16. Accordingly, with the two dauber units 38 and 40 in the relationship shown in FIG. 3, coating material in the plcnunis 46 of these two units flows through their perforate inner semicylindrical wall members 44 onto the cigarette rod to provide a band of coating material thereon.

Referring back to FIG. 2, the coating material is supplied to the plenum chambers 46 of the two dauber units through flexible conduits 52 and 54 from a tank or other container 56. The

flow may be by gravity feed or tank 56 may be pressurized. if

desired. to insure a proper flow of the coating material to the dauber units.

Referring still to FIG. 2, it is the function of the control mechanism 32 mentioned briefly above to periodically move dauber units 38 and 40 from a configuration (not shown) in which they are separated from each other and spaced from cigarette rod 16 to the position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 to deposit the coating material on the cigarette rod at locations such that, when the cigarette rod is subsequently severed by cutting mechanism 28. one or both ends of each cigarette will be covered with the lecithin coating.

Control mechanism 32 includes a motor 58 having an output shaft 60 to which a crank 62 is fixed. One end of crank 62 is connected through an articulated link 64 to a crank 66 which is pivotally supported by a bracket 68 from any desired stationary component of the cigarette forming machine. The opposite end of crank 66 is connected through articulated link 70 to a bracket 72 fastened in any convenient fashion to upper dauber unit 38.

The crank 62 fixed to motor output shaft 60 is also connected through a system of links like that just described to lower dauber unit 40. These links have been identified in the drawing by the same reference characters as the components connecting the upper dauber unit to the motor but followed by the letter 11.

Referring still to FIG. 2, motor 58 is periodically energized by the knife member 74 of cutter mechanism 28. As the knife member descends to sever a cigarette, it closes a switch (not shown) completing a circuit through an amplifier 76 to the motor. The amplified signal thus transmitted to the motor through a relay or other conventional motor starter (not shown) connects the motor across a source of operating voltage to energize it.

Upon energization, the output shaft 60 of the motor rotates in a counterclockwise direction as shown in FIG. 2, moving link 64 up and pivoting crank 66 in a clockwise direction with respect to bracket 68. This moves articulated link 70 and, accordingly, dauber unit 38 downwardly from its inoperative, separated position to the position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 in which the coating material is transferred from the dauber unit to the cigarette rod.

At the same time, the counterclockwise rotation of crank 62 moves articulated link 64a downwardly, rotating crank 66a in a counterclockwise direction about bracket 68a. This moves articulated link 70a upwardly, shifting dauber unit 40 upwardly from its separated position to the coating material transferring position of FIGS. 2 and 3.

The sequence of eventsjust described is followed by upward movement of knife member 74, opening the switch engaged thereby and deenergizing motor 58. At this point springs 78 and 78a connected between the opposite ends of crank 62 and stationary components of the cigarette making machine pivot the crank in a clockwise direction. The result is counterclockwise movement of crank 66 and clockwise movement of crank 66a, which moves dauber unit 38 upwardly and dauber unit 40 downwardly away from cigarette rod 16.

The control of the coating apparatus by cutting mechanism 28 or by another timed component of the cigarette machine such as the printer (not shown) is preferred since this insures that the coating material will be applied at the proper loca tions on the cigarette rod. This particular form of control is not essential, however; and any alternate control system which will result in application of the coating to the cigarette rod at the proper locations therealong can be employed, if desired.

FIG. 4 depicts an alternate form of coating apparatus constructed in accord with the principles of the instant invention. This apparatus includes a cylindrical applicator 80 similar in construction to the dauber 30 in the coating apparatus embodiment described above. Applicator 80 is composed of an imperforate, cylindrical outer shell 82, a perforate, cylindrical, concentric inner shell 84, which may be fabricated from one of the materials discussed above, and end walls 86 (only one of which is shown), The concentric inner and outer shells provide a plenum (not shown, but similar to the plenums 46 in the previously described embodiment) for the coating material and a hollow passage 88 through which cigarette rod 16 passes. The plenum in applicator 80 is connected through conduits 89 to a source 90 of the coating material and through parallel conduits 92 to flow regulator 94.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the flow regulator consists of a housing 96 in which a disc 98 provided with radial flow passages 100 is rotatably mounted. The ports 100 in the disc communicate through passage 102 and plenum 104 in housing 96 with the conduits 92 to the plenum in applicator 80. The ports in the rotatable disc also communicate through conduit 106 with a source of the coating material which may be tank 90 or a separate source. Accordingly, when one of the ports 100 in the rotatable disc is aligned with passage 102 in housing 96, coating material flows from the source connected to conduit 106 through port 100, passage 102, and conduit 92 to the interior of applicator 80.

Tank 90 is employed to keep the interior of applicator 80 full of the coating material but is so located with respect to the applicator that the head on the coating material will not cause it to flow through the inner member 84 of the applicator onto cigarette rod 16. This balance is upset by the additional fluid supplied to the applicator when the passages 100 in rotating disc 98 are aligned with the passage 102 in housing 96 of the timing device. This produces an excess of coating material in the applicator, which flows through the inner applicator member onto cigarette rod 16.

Referring now specifically to FIG. 5, disc 98 is fixed to the output shaft 107 of and rotated by motor 108. In this embodiment of the invention, the speed of motor 108 and accordingly the deposition of coating material on the cigarette rod is regulated by cutting mechanism 28 through a control circuit identified generally in FIG. by reference character 110. Numerous forms of speed control circuitry by which the speed of motor 108 can be regulated are well-known and commercially available; and, accordingly, a detailed discussion of suitable circuitry is not believed necessary, especially where the details of the latter are not part of the present invention.

As in the embodiment, of coating apparatus described previously, control of the operation of timing device 94 by the cutting mechanism 28 is preferred since this insures that the coating material is deposited on cigarette rod 16 at the proper locations. In this regard, the sensing device shown in FIG. 5 could consist of a conventional make-and-break arrangement that is synchronized with the knife member of the cutter mechanism 28. However, as is also true in the case of the earlier embodiment, this type of control does not have to be employed and can be replaced by any desired control system which will insure that the coating is properly located on the cigarette rod.

As mentioned above, the coating material flowing through flow regulator 94 is preferably supplied through conduit 106 under pressure to insure that the same amount of coating material is applied to the cigarette rod at each successive location. This method of supplying the coating material has a further advantage. Specifically, by varying the pressure on the source of supply connected to the timing device, the amount of material deposited on the cigarette can be varied, providing a convenient method for varying the thickness of the coating.

The pressure can be varied in any desired fashion. For example, a conventional pressure regulating device 111 such as a positive displacement piston can be used for this purpose.

A third form of coating apparatus 112, shown schematically in FIG. 6, includes plural daubers 30 of the type described -above. The upper units 38 of the daubers are fixed to travelling bar 114 by brackets 116, and the lower units 40 of the daubers are fixed to travelling bar 118 by brackets 120.

The travelling bars 114 and 118 are mounted in conventional guides or tracks 122 (only one of which is shown) for movement toward and away from cigarette rod 16 and in the direction of movement of the cigarette rod.

As the cigarette rod 16 moves through daubers 30, bars 114 and 118 are shifted to move the units 38 and 40 of the daubers toward each other to the coating transfer positions shown in FIG. 6 and in the direction of cigarette rod travel as the coating material is applied. The travelling bars are then shifted back to their starting positions, moving the units 38 and 40 of the daubers apart to terminate the transfer of coating material to the cigarette rod.

The mechanism for shifting the travelling bars may be of any desiredtype. For example, with only slight modifications. the dauber operating mechanism shown in FIG, 2 may be employed for this purpose.

The advantages of the coating apparatus shown in FIG. 6 are that the coating material is applied simultaneously to the cigarette rod at multiple locations and that there is little if any relative movement between the daubers and the cigarette rod while the coating is applied. These features make it possible to apply the coating at a rate commensurate with the speed at which the cigarette rod is formed in even the highest speed cigarette making machines.

Although three embodiments of coating apparatus have been described in detail above, it will be obvious to those skilled in the arts to which the present invention relates that other apparatus can also be employed for application of the lecithin coating material.

lclaim:

1. Cigarette making apparatus comprising means [or forming an elongated multiple cigarette rod comprising a core of compressed tobacco and a tube of paper surrounding said core, means for applying to the rod thus formed at locations spaced therealong a coating material capable of making said rod moisture and crush resistant, means for drying said coating, means for severing said rod at the locations at which the coating is applied to thereby produce cigarettes having moisture and crush resistant ends, and control r :ans responsive to said cigarette severing means for periodically actuating the means for applying the coating to thereby cause said lastnamed means to apply the coating material to the cigarette rod at said spaced locations.

2. The apparatus of claim I, wherein the means for applying the coating material includes means for simultaneously applying said material to said rod at a plurality of said spaced locations.

3. Cigarette making apparatus comprising means for forming an elongated multiple cigarette rod comprising a core of compressed tobacco and a tube of paper surrounding said core, means for applying to the rod thus formed at locations spaced therealong a coating material capable of making said rod moisture and crush resistant, said last-mentioned means comprising at least two coating applying members adapted when juxtaposed to surround said cigarette rod, means for moving said members from positions in which they are spaced away from said rod toward said rod and into juxtaposition, and means for transferring the coating material from the juxtaposed members to said cigarette rod, means for drying said coating, and means for severing said rod at the locations at which the coating is applied to thereby produce cigarettes having moisture and crush resistant ends.

4. Cigarette making apparatus comprising means for forming an elongated multiple cigarette rod comprising a core of compressed tobacco and a tube of paper surrounding said core, means for applying to the rod thus formed at locations spaced therealong a coating material capable of making said rod moisture and crush resistant, said last-mentioned means comprising a hollow member adapted to surround said cigarette rod and having an apertured inner wall, means for supplying the coating material to the hollow interior of said member, and means for periodically forcing the coating material from the interior of said member onto said cigarette rod to thereby provide the coating thereon at said spaced locations, means for drying said coating. and means for severing said rod at the locations at which the coating is applied to thereby produce cigarettes having moisture and crush resistant ends.

5. Cigarette making apparatus comprising means for form ing an elongated multiple cigarette rod comprising a core of compressed tobacco and a tube of paper surrounding said core, means for applying to the rod thus formed at locations spaced therealong a coating material capable of making said rod moisture and crush resistant. means for forcing the coating material under pressure from the coating applying means onto the cigarette rod. means for changing the pressure to thereby vary the thickness of the coating material deposited on the cigarette rod, means for drying said coating. and means for severing said rod at the locations at which the coating is applied to thereby produce cigarettes having moisture and crush resistant ends. 

